Pre-Health Professions
Hastings College is the best place for you to get started in a health professions career — whether you’re interested in becoming a medical doctor, pharmacist, dentist, physician assistant, nurse, physical therapist or any number of health-related professions.
We provide personalized advising, academic support where you need it and offer professional development strategies from our faculty and active alumni network.
There are multiple pathways into medical fields — and Hastings College is the place to get the prerequisites and experience you need to apply to and be accepted into one of your programs of choice.
Pre-health tracks
Some of the pre-health tracks Hastings College students have focused on — or been accepted to graduate school in — are included below.
- Dentistry
- Chiropractic
- Cytotechnology
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Occupational therapy
- Optometry
- Osteopathic medicine
- Pharmacy
- Physician assistant
- Physical therapy
- Radiography
- Speech pathology
- Veterinary medicine
Most common majors at Hastings
While a number of majors can ultimately lead you to a career in a health profession, these are the most common at Hastings College.
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Exercise Science
- Health Systems
- Health Technology
- Psychology





Create your own future
See for yourself how we tailor your education to your talents and your goals. Schedule a visit and we’ll demonstrate how Hastings will inspire you to reach your potential, or if you’re a high school senior, apply today.
Acceptance to graduate schools
You’ll find successful Hastings College alumni at these and other graduate schools.
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown
- University
University of Nebraska Medical Center - University of Michigan
- Bryan College of Health Sciences
- Creighton University
Indiana University School of Optometry
- Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Nebraska Methodist College
- University of Alabama-Birmingham
- University of Pittsburgh
- Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Go further with a Hastings education
Thanks to our small class sizes (most have fewer than 20 students!), and a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, you’ll work closely with faculty and your advisor to complete your degree in four years. In fact, most students who graduate from Hastings do so in four years!
Our block-style semester structure means you’ll take just one or two classes at a time — which really lets you focus more intently on each class. It also lets faculty devote more time to every student because they’re only teaching one or two classes in a block!
All the extras aren't extra

Maximize scholarships — Yes, you’ll get an academic scholarship. But you’ll also get an additional “plus one” scholarship from the group, team or area you’re part of. It’s a great way to pay for school, but also find “your people.”

Books included — Afraid of a $400 textbook? No more! We’ve eliminated the high cost of text books by working with our bookstore to provide all required textbooks. This will save you $1,000 or more each year.

iPad + Apple Pencil — We’ll set you up with an iPad and Apple Pencil — and help you learn how to incorporate these tools into your studies. From digital notes to pictures of lab setups, you’ll discover creative ways to use this technology!
Find scholarships for pre-health majors
Your high school achievements can both fuel and fund your success at Hastings. We offer a range of generous and renewable academic scholarships based on your GPA. Plus we offer talent scholarships for everything from speech (forensics) to the arts to athletics. The result? Every student receives at least $12,000 in scholarships (but most receive more!).
Success in Health Professions

Looking to play baseball, Talbert finds more at Hastings College (video)

Finding path in college lets Weber return to his roots

Paths to service started at Hastings College

Close-knit community keeps Bosley coming back for more

Appelhans pursues dentistry through residency in Pacific Northwest

Sedmak manages double major in chemistry, music

Younger finds success in chemistry at Hastings College (video)

Jaffe ’09 and animal ambassadors encourage conservation
